ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405CA) vs Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8 (7th Edition)
Both are good choices with different strengths. The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED has more storage and has an OLED screen, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8 has a sharper screen, has a smoother screen and has a brighter screen.
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Key differences
- Storage ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED wins
The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED has twice the storage: 1 TB against 512 GB.
- OLED screen ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED wins
The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED has an OLED screen, with true blacks and richer colour than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8's LCD.
- Sharpness Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8 wins
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8's screen is sharper: 2K against Full HD.
- Smoothness Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8 wins
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8's 120 Hz screen is smoother than the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED's 60 Hz one.
- Brightness Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8 wins
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8's screen is brighter (600 against 400 nits), so it's easier to see near a window.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED if…
- You store lots of photos, videos or games: it has 1 TB of storage.
- You watch a lot of films and video, or edit photos: its OLED screen has true blacks and rich colour.
- You plug things in: it has HDMI (for TVs and monitors).
Choose the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8 if…
- You read, write or edit photos a lot: its 2K screen makes text and images crisper.
- You like smooth scrolling: its 120 Hz screen feels slicker.
- You work near windows or outside: its screen is brighter at 600 nits.
Full spec comparison
Add more laptopsThe ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED leads on performance, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8 leads on the screen. Highlighted values mark the better spec in each row, and you can hide the rows where they match.
Performance
The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED is ahead on performance.
It has more storage, and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405CA) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8 (7th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 255H | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100 |
| Graphics | Intel Arc 140T | Qualcomm Adreno GPU |
| AI engine (NPU) | 13 TOPS | 45 TOPS |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory type | LPDDR5X | LPDDR5x |
| Maximum memory | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory upgrades | Soldered (not upgradeable) | Soldered (not upgradeable) |
| Storage | 1 TB | 512 GB |
| Storage type | SSD | SSD |
| Storage interface | PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 2280 | Gen 4 SSD (removable) |
| Storage slots | 1 | — |
Screen
Each laptop has its strengths on the screen.
The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED has an OLED screen, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8 has a sharper screen, has a smoother screen and has a brighter screen.
| Spec | ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405CA) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8 (7th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 14" | 13.8" |
| Resolution | Full HD+ (1920 x 1200) | 2K (2304 x 1536) |
| Aspect ratio | 16:10 | 3:2 |
| Panel | OLED | LCD |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Variable refresh (VRR) | No | — |
| Brightness | 400 nits | 600 nits |
| Colour range | 100% DCI-P3 | sRGB and Vivid colour profiles |
| HDR | VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 | Dolby Vision IQ, HDR 600 nits peak |
| Finish | Glossy | Glossy |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Pen standard | MPP 2.0 | — |
Battery and size
The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED is ahead on battery and weight.
It is slimmer, and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405CA) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8 (7th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life (maker claim) | — | Up to 20 hours |
| Battery capacity | 75 Wh | 54 Wh |
| Charger | 65 W | 39 W |
| Charges via | USB-C | USB-C, Surface Connect |
| Weight | 1.28 kg | 1.34 kg |
| Dimensions | 312.4 x 220.1 x 14.9 mm | 301 x 220 x 17.5 mm |
| Materials | — | Anodized aluminum casing |
| Durability | US MIL-STD-810H | — |
| Colour | Ponder Blue | Sapphire |
| Colours available | Ponder Blue, Jasper Gray, Foggy Silver | Platinum, Black, Sapphire, Dune |
Ports and wireless
The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED is ahead on ports and wireless.
It has HDMI, and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405CA) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8 (7th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C, both support charging and DisplayPort, up to 40Gbps), 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps), 1x HDMI 2.1 (TMDS), 1x 3.5 mm combo audio | 2x USB-C / USB 4 (charging, data, DisplayPort 1.4a), 1x USB-A 3.1, 1x 3.5 mm audio, 1x Surface Connect (charging) |
| Thunderbolt / USB4 | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gbps) | USB4 |
| Card reader | None | None |
| Ethernet | None | None |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4 | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Mobile data | None | None |
Features
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8 is ahead on extras.
It has Copilot+ AI features, and the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405CA) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8 (7th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Webcam | 1080p + IR | 1080p |
| Webcam privacy | physical shutter | — |
| Backlit keyboard | Yes | Yes |
| Keyboard | backlit chiclet, 1.4 mm key travel, Copilot key | Backlit, mechanical keys, QWERTY with F1-F12 row, Copilot key, media and brightness buttons |
| Login | Face | Face |
| Number pad | No | No |
| Touchpad | precision touchpad | Precision Haptic touchpad |
| Speakers | Harman Kardon stereo speakers | Omnisonic Speakers with Dolby Atmos |
| Microphones | built-in array microphone | Dual Studio Mics with voice focus |
| Pen | Supported (sold separately) | No |
| Security | TPM 2.0, Windows Hello face recognition | TPM 2.0, BitLocker support, Windows 11 Secured-core PC, Microsoft Pluton, Windows Hello face authentication |
Software and model
The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED is ahead on software and updates.
It is newer, and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405CA) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8 (7th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
| Model number | UX3405CA-QL192W | ZGM-00064 |
| Released | 2025 | 2024 |